Functional Leadership process

Once every month your elders, whom the Bible qualifies as pastors-bishops, or in simple English – “nurturers-overseers,” meet together to pray for community needs, to debrief, to encourage each other, and to plan for the future directions.
It has been our practice to read through a book together. We are still working on the book “Spiritual Leadership” which we’ve started in 2007, we are just few pages away from completing the reflections. This past week we talked about contributions we each make. And one particular element was of highest importance in my mind – contribution to Organization.
While our personal contributions to people are important, and we talked about the fact that when we minister in the word through preaching, or visiting, or offering an advice, we must be intentional about people benefiting by growing, maturing, moving forward, it is by investing in our corporate organization that our influence can last and impact future generations.
Think about it – nothing is made without men, nothing lasts without institutions. The reason family exists – is to establish a future legacy, succession, continuation of name, purpose, and identity.
So, it is normal to expect that a functional organization can do more than any individuals can…. WOW! Did you get this point? If an organization has lesser influence, or can do/achieve less than any individual that is a part of this organization – then who needs such an organization? I hear often complains that the church can do this, that, or the other. But, so-and-so, if asked, will be able to.
If that’s the case – we are one dysfunctional organization. No individual, no matter how gifted, how capable, and how willing is above the community in which he lives and works. And if cases occur, where individuals use their position of trust, given by the community, to develop their personal influence – they are not contributing to the Organizational wellbeing and growth.
As we are moving into the Nominating Process, prayerfully considering the work that is needed to build up the Church of Christ, I invite you all for a time of introspection – examine the contribution you’ve made to our community, has it added value and power to the Church? Has your presence, being member of this church, added significance, legacy, and resources to this family we call Church? |Have we made people around us better? Have we made this place a better place? Examine your contribution…